Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo vs Galaxy A54: A Detailed Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo represents a legacy device, while the Galaxy A54 is a modern mid-range contender. Both offer compelling features, but cater to different needs and budgets. This comparison dives deep into their specs and performance to help you decide which phone is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. Its modern chipset, superior display, improved camera, and significantly better battery life outweigh the S5 Neo's nostalgic appeal. While the S5 Neo might be tempting for budget-conscious users, the A54 offers a vastly superior experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo Samsung Galaxy A54
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G903FHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G903F1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands-1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 MbpsHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 29 - G903W25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2015, August. Released 2015, August2023, March 15
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2023, March 24
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame
Dimensions142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in)158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in)
SIMMicro-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight145 g (5.11 oz)202 g (7.13 oz)
 IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)
Size5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio)6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeSuper AMOLEDSuper AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM)
Platform
CPUOcta-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetExynos 7580 Octa (28 nm)Exynos 1380 (5 nm)
GPUMali-T720MP2Mali-G68 MP5
OSAndroid 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat)Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (dedicated slot)microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal16GB 2GB RAM128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM
 eMMC 5.0-
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, panorama, HDR
Single16 MP, f/1.9, 31mm (standard), AF32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Triple-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm 5 MP (macro)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
Single5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide)32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE5.3, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes (market/region dependent)
PositioningGPS, GLONASSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioFM radioNo
USBmicroUSB 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspotWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsAccelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rateFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only)
 ANT+ S-VoiceVirtual proximity sensing
Battery
Charging-25W wired
Music playUp to 73 h-
Talk timeUp to 15 h (3G)-
TypeLi-Ion 2800 mAh, removable5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, Gray, GoldLime, Graphite, Violet, White
ModelsSM-G903F, SM-G903W, SM-G903M, SM-S903VLSM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W
PriceAbout 300 EUR€ 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999
SAR1.03 W/kg (head)     1.27 W/kg (body)0.81 W/kg (head)     0.67 W/kg (body)
SAR EU0.46 W/kg (head)     0.58 W/kg (body)0.69 W/kg (head)     1.34 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 119h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)
OUR TESTS
Battery-Active use score 11:15h
Battery (old)-Endurance rating 119h
Camera-Photo / Video
Display-980 nits max brightness (measured)
Loudspeaker--26.6 LUFS (Good)
Performance-AnTuTu: 506678 (v9) GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo

  • Very affordable
  • Compact size
  • Durable (water and dust resistant)

  • Outdated chipset
  • Low-resolution display
  • Poor camera quality
  • Short battery life
  • Limited software updates

Samsung Galaxy A54

  • Excellent display
  • Powerful chipset
  • Great camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Modern design
  • Regular software updates

  • Charging speed could be faster (25W)
  • Plastic build (though well-designed)

Display Comparison

The Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly brighter display (980 nits vs. likely around 300 nits for the S5 Neo) with a superior contrast ratio (Infinite vs. typical). The A54's display technology is also more advanced, offering better color accuracy and viewing angles. The S5 Neo's display is functional but noticeably dated.

Camera Comparison

The Galaxy A54's camera system is considerably more advanced. While specific megapixel counts aren't the only factor, the A54's newer image processing capabilities, larger sensors (likely), and improved optics result in significantly better photo and video quality, especially in low-light conditions. The S5 Neo's camera is adequate for basic snapshots but struggles in challenging lighting.

Performance

The Exynos 1380 in the A54 is a massive upgrade over the Exynos 7580 in the S5 Neo. The A54's newer CPU architecture (Cortex-A78 cores) and 5nm manufacturing process provide significantly faster processing speeds and improved power efficiency. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the A54.

Battery Life

The Galaxy A54 excels in battery life, achieving an endurance rating of 119 hours. The S5 Neo's battery life is considerably shorter, likely around 10-12 hours of typical use. The A54's power efficiency, thanks to its modern chipset, contributes to its exceptional battery performance.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo is best suited for users on an extremely tight budget who prioritize basic functionality and are comfortable with an older device. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is ideal for those seeking a reliable, modern smartphone with a great display, capable camera, and long-lasting battery, without breaking the bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo still worth buying?
Only if you're on an extremely tight budget and need a basic phone for calls and texts. Otherwise, the Galaxy A54 offers significantly better value.
❓ What is the biggest difference between the two phones?
The biggest difference is the chipset. The Galaxy A54's Exynos 1380 provides a vastly superior performance and efficiency compared to the S5 Neo's Exynos 7580.